Lewisham represented at HQ’s YouShape event

21 November 2016

On February 7th 2015, The Scout Association invited 120 young people in Scouting aged between 14-25 to join Hannah Kentish, the UK Youth Commissioner and her team to discuss how young people shape Scouting.

We’re very pleased that Alex Mellis, a Lewisham Network member represented Lewisham and Greater London South’s young members. Speaking of the event Alex said: “YouShape was a great day with a wide mix of ages from the Explorer and Network sections from all over the UK.

“The role that young people play in Scouting, how this can be improved and what changes would benefit everybody involved in the Movement were the main topics discussed over the course of several sessions. Later on the new UK Youth Commissioner and her deputies sat alongside Wayne Bulpitt and Matt Hyde to answer questions from those in the room, those watching the live stream and those following the event on Twitter.

Alex continued: “The future purpose and structure of the future youth council (the name of which was also discussed) as well as who should sit on it and how they would be selected were all questions that HQ were keen to get a view on from those involved in the YouShape event. A positive atmosphere and emphasis on the vital importance of partnership between youth and adult members underlined the forward looking nature of the event. The process, for such it is, is an evolution not revolution and won’t happen overnight, but with continued perseverance and constructive dialogue the next steps to improve what is already an excellent organisation will be exciting and beneficial to all those involved in Scouting.”

Watch Alex raising a question on the event’s recorded live stream here.